My dad was diagnosed with non small cell lung
cancer stage IIIB with a pleural effusion. The only treatment option
provided was that of chemotherapy. He received carboplatin and taxol
for several months however the scan showed that the tumor continued to
grow. I talked to the doctor about some other options and he
suggested changing the chemo to gemcide however didn't seem too
excited about pursuing other options. My dad started the gemcide
however we also decided to go to another place for a second opinion on
treatment options. The second place says they are not so sure it
is lung cancer. They think it is mesothelioma. They
suggested and he is now scheduled to have a major surgery where they cut
the ribs to take out a piece of the lining of the lung for a biopsy.
Apparently this mesothelioma cancer is a rare and difficult type of cancer
to diagnose.
Has anyone else out there had a similar type
of situation whereby they diagnosis and treat you for one type of cancer then a
different place thinks it is a different type of cancer? I
guess I'm a little surprised as both places are recognized as being
comprehensive cancer centers.
